Former NSW police minister Michael Costa said he believed the attack on his wife in their Millfield home was not politically motivated.

‘‘There is absolutely no evidence that this is a politically motivated or targeted attack,’’ he said at a press conference held with police and his wife this afternoon.

At about 8.40am, Mrs Costa was home alone with her two children, Valentina, 4, and Mikos, 2, when a man stormed into the kitchen armed with a knife.

He tied her up at the wrists and the ankles and demanded cash.

The armed man escaped only with some wine in Mrs Costa’s car, a blue 2007 model Honda Civic with NSW registration BDY 26D, but he threatened to return.

When the man had gone, Mrs Costa asked four-year-old Valentina to call triple 0 and she held the phone to her mother’s ear.

The ordeal lasted for about 15 minutes, Mrs Costa said.

Police arrived shortly after and untied Mrs Costa, giving her first aid for minor injuries to her wrists.

Mr Costa was at a meeting at the time of the break-in and the two children were not harmed.

A crime scene was established with police conducting patrols of the area in search of the offender.

The man has been described as being of Caucasian appearance, medium build and height, wearing a black balaclava, black tracksuit and had a goatee beard.

Anyone with information about the identity of the man or whereabouts of the stolen Honda Civic is urged to contact Maitland Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.